Multiple Intelligence decoded with Sweety Manglic

Multiple Intelligence is a word which is very commonly heard today. There are many organisations which conduct these tests for children. But what is it exactly? Let us find out from our today’s expert, Sweety Manglic. She is an educator, blogger and children’s book author. She holds an international diploma for teachers and trainers from Cambridge University. She has also done her diploma in Multiple Intelligences and Bloom’s Taxonomy. She comes with 10 years of corporate experiences in business development and 4 years in teaching. She is a dear friend and I am glad to have her with us today. So let us begin……

Sweety: The theory of multiple intelligences was developed in 1983 by Dr Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University. It suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, is far too limited. Instead, Dr Gardner proposes eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults. These intelligences are:

Linguistic intelligence (“word smart”)

Logical-mathematical intelligence (“number/reasoning smart”)

Spatial intelligence (“picture smart”)

Bodily-Kinaesthetic intelligence (“body smart”)

Musical intelligence (“music smart”)

Interpersonal intelligence (“people smart”)

Intrapersonal intelligence (“self-smart”)

Naturalist intelligence (“nature smart”)

Me: So how does it help children and parents?

Sweety: As per Dr Gardner majority of the schools and cultures focus most of their attention on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence. In such a scenario, children with these two intelligences are able to absorb and perform better and thereby, have greater academic score whereas, the potential of children with other intelligences remains untapped.

As for parents, imagine a child with a deep inclination towards language and music is forced to perform and score well in a subject like Mathematics that requires logical intelligence. We tend to push children in areas that they are weak and discourage them to spend more time in areas and subjects they enjoy the most and are naturally good at.

Hence, it is important for parents and educators to understand the concept of multiple intelligences and further allow children to develop and strengthen their multiple intelligences to realise their maximum potential.

Me: What according to you is wrong with parenting these days?

Sweety: As a parent, I don’t think I have the right to judge others. Each parent has the best intention for their child and is striving to give their best to raise them. In fact, with more number of working parents struggling to maintain the current standard of living and rise in nuclear families with less or zero support system at home has made parenting difficult for them too.

Yes, what I do feel is going on wrong these days is the lack of survival or life skills in children that we as a society are failing to impart and develop in them. They are under tremendous pressure to perform, compete and excel. As a result, we are dealing a generation of children experiencing the maximum amount of stress and they don’t know how to deal with it. There has been a significant rise in self-harm cases and the average age of consuming tobacco, alcohol and other toxic substances is now 12-13 years. As per a survey, six teenagers seek help for porn addiction every week. All this is clear proof of the alarming state of children today stating something is majorly wrong.

Me: Very true. So people say that today’s generation is high on IQ but low on EQ. What is your take on this?

Sweety: As I understand, IQ is the measure of one’s intelligence and EQ one’s emotional strength/intelligence. Emotional intelligence helps a person to understand the needs and feelings of oneself and other people, manage one’s feelings, and respond to others in appropriate ways. Above mentioned statistics and data clearly signifies the need for helping today’s children build stronger emotional intelligence. With the clear impetus on academic performance and to compete, succeed and excel, somewhere the need for strengthening and focusing on building higher EQ has been ignored and suppressed.

Me: So what are your tips for parents?

Sweety: I feel it is important for parents to be aware and well informed in today’s world. The importance should be placed on building a child’s character and helping them develop life skills to survive. Also, it is important for parents to understand that we are not experts in all areas. Hence, be open to seek help from experts whenever and wherever required.

Me: Thanks a lot, Sweety.

I hope you all understood what exactly is multiple intelligence and how important it is for a healthy child. I feel that “Academics is a very small part of Education“. Education is a very broad term and it is an ongoing process. It is not restricted to the school building or the syllabus. Let us allow our kids to flourish and be free souls.